In the fight against heroin deaths, the Kane County Health Department is setting the standard for agencies throughout the state of Illinois.

The Health Department’s Narcan training program recently passed a milestone by having more than 1,000 officers in Kane County trained in the administration of Naloxone.

Within the first year of the launch of the program there were seven lives saved by police officers. Since then there have been a total of 26 lives saved in Kane County by police officers responding to the scene of an overdose and administering Narcan.

KCHD launched its first Train the Trainer class on Narcan administration in July, 2014, by training 29 officers from 16 agencies in the nasal delivery system. Since then there has been more than 115 training sessions for 23 agencies, including three colleges in Kane County, trained on the nasal and Evzio Auto-Injector delivery systems. The department has since trained a total 1,008 officers.

KCHD staff pose with Sheriff Donald Kramer and Sgt. Paul Warren. From Left, Judy Zwart RN, Diane Dawson, Cheryl Kane RN, Sharon Sillitti, RN, and Michelle Zentmyer RN.

“The Health Department is committed to continue to reach out and provide training to partner agencies,” said Executive Director Barbara Jeffers. “We take pride in teaching officers from all the departments on the administration of Narcan and how to train their fellow officers.”

Agencies participating in the training program to date include Algonquin, Elgin, Batavia, Campton Hills, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elburn, Geneva, Gilberts, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Kane County Forest Preserve, Kane County Sheriff, North Aurora, Oswego, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, St. Charles, and West Dundee police departments. Employees of Aurora University Campus Safety, Waubonsee College and Elgin Community College have also been trained.

Naloxone, marketed under the trade name Narcan, is a medication used to counter the effects of an overdose. Naloxone is safe and effective and has no effect on non-opioid overdoses.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department news release

About the Kane County Health Department

In active partnership with our community, the Kane County Health Department improves the quality of life and well-being of all residents by developing and implementing local policies, systems, and services that protect and promote health, and prevent disease, injury and disability. Visit the Health Department’s Facebook Page and sign up for the award-winning “Health Matters” newsletter.